Babalade: CAF On Right Course With AFCON Timetable Shift, Expansion

Former Super Eagles defender, Ajibade Babalade, has expressed his support to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on the decision to move the schedule of the Africa Cup of Nations from January/February to June and July, starting from the 2019 AFCON in Cameroon, Completesportsnigeria.com reports.

"I'm in support of the change from January and February to June and July, and the increase of participating teams,from 16 to 24," Ajibade said on Saturday.

"But for me the bigger issue here is the FIFA Confederations Cup. The FIFA Confederations Cup are held in the same months. What happens in the year 2021 fior example when the Confederations Cup is expected to hold just before the 2022 World Cup," Babalade who was in Nigeria's squad to the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal asked rhetorically.

"But somehow its going to deal with the issue that African players have with their European clubs. We expect that clubs will release their players and hopefully, more African-born players will choose to represent their countries they are originally from," Babalade stressed.